Exodus 14:17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

◄ Exodus 14:17 ►

New International Version
I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

New Living Translation
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.

English Standard Version
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.

Berean Standard Bible
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

King James Bible
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

New King James Version
And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

New American Standard Bible
And as for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

NASB 1995
“As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

NASB 1977
“And as for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

Legacy Standard Bible
As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians with strength so that they will go in after them; and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

Amplified Bible
As for Me, hear this: I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in [the sea] after them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and his war-chariots and his horsemen.

Christian Standard Bible
As for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen.

American Standard Version
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

Contemporary English Version
I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go after you. Then I will be praised because of what happens to the king and his chariots and cavalry.

English Revised Version
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am making the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow the Israelites. I will receive honor because of what I will do to Pharaoh, his entire army, his chariots, and cavalry.

Good News Translation
I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will go in after them, and I will gain honor by my victory over the king, his army, his chariots, and his drivers.

International Standard Version
Even now I'm hardening the heart of the Egyptians so they'll go after the Israelis. Then I'll receive honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

Majority Standard Bible
And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.

NET Bible
And as for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will come after them, that I may be honored because of Pharaoh and his army and his chariots and his horsemen.

New Heart English Bible
And as for me, look, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I, behold I, will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen.

World English Bible
Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And I—behold, I am strengthening the heart of the Egyptians, and they go in after them, and I am honored by Pharaoh, and by all his force, by his chariots, and by his horsemen;

Young's Literal Translation
'And I -- lo, I am strengthening the heart of the Egyptians, and they go in after them, and I am honoured on Pharaoh, and on all his force, on his chariots, and on his horsemen;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I, behold me binding fast the heart of the Egyptians, and they shall go after them: and I will be honored in Pharaoh, and upon all his army, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then I will harden the heart of the Egyptians, so as to pursue you. And I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in all his army, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen.

New American Bible
But I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and his horsemen.

New Revised Standard Version
Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, so that they shall follow them; and I will triumph over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I, behold, I am hardening the heart of the Egyptians that they will enter after them and I shall be glorified by Pharaoh and by all his army, and by his chariots and by his horsemen.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them; and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And lo! I will harden the heart of Pharao and of all the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them; and I will be glorified upon Pharao, and on all his host, and on his chariots and his horses.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Parting the Red Sea
…16And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen. 18The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Joshua 4:23-24
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. / He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”

Psalm 106:8-12
Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known. / He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert. / He saved them from the hand that hated them; He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. ...

Nehemiah 9:10-11
You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. / You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

Isaiah 63:12-13
who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Deuteronomy 11:3-4
the signs and works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; / what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day;

Psalm 136:13-15
He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever. / and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever. / but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Exodus 15:4-5
Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea; the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. / The depths have covered them; they sank there like a stone.

Exodus 9:16
But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Deuteronomy 4:34
Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation—by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors—as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes?

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Revelation 15:3-4
and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! / Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Treasury of Scripture

And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honor on Pharaoh, and on all his host, on his chariots, and on his horsemen.

I behold

Genesis 6:17
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Genesis 9:9
And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

Leviticus 26:28
Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

I will

Exodus 14:8
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

Exodus 4:23
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Exodus 7:3,13,14
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt…

and I will

Exodus 14:18
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

Exodus 14:4
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

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Armies Army Chariots Egyptians Follow Force Gain Glorify Glory Hard Harden Heart Hearts Honor Honored Honour Horsemen Host Pharaoh Pursue Strengthening

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Exodus 14

1. God instructs the Israelites in their journey
5. Pharaoh pursues after them
10. The Israelites murmur
13. Moses comforts them
15. God instructs Moses
19. The cloud removes behind the camp
21. The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians

Berean Study Bible

And as for Me
This phrase indicates a direct declaration from God, emphasizing His active role and sovereign will in the unfolding events. The Hebrew root here is "וַאֲנִי" (va'ani), which is a personal pronoun meaning "I" or "as for me." It underscores God's personal involvement and commitment to His people. In the context of Exodus, God is not a distant deity but one who is intimately involved in the deliverance of Israel. This personal engagement is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, where God often reassures His people of His presence and action.

I will harden
The Hebrew word used here is "חָזַק" (chazaq), which means to strengthen, make firm, or harden. This action by God is a deliberate act to fulfill His purposes. In the narrative of Exodus, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart serves to demonstrate God's power and glory. It is a reminder that God's plans are sovereign and that He can use even the resistance of human hearts to accomplish His divine will. This concept challenges believers to trust in God's ultimate plan, even when circumstances seem contrary to human understanding.

the hearts of the Egyptians
The heart, in Hebrew "לֵב" (lev), is often seen as the center of will, emotion, and intellect. By hardening the hearts of the Egyptians, God is influencing their decisions and actions. This phrase highlights the spiritual battle between God's will and human resistance. Historically, the Egyptians were a powerful nation, and their hearts being hardened signifies a divine intervention that overrides human power and pride. It serves as a lesson that no human authority can stand against God's purposes.

so that they will go in after them
This phrase indicates the purpose of God's action. The Egyptians pursuing the Israelites into the sea is a pivotal moment in the Exodus story. It demonstrates God's control over the situation, leading the Egyptians into a trap that will ultimately bring about their downfall. This action is a testament to God's strategic planning and His ability to use the intentions of His enemies to bring about His glory and the deliverance of His people.

And I will be glorified
The Hebrew root "כָּבֵד" (kavod) means to be heavy or weighty, often used to describe glory or honor. God's glorification is the ultimate aim of the events in Exodus. Through the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites and the defeat of the Egyptians, God's power and majesty are displayed to all. This phrase reminds believers that God's actions are always aimed at revealing His glory, and it encourages them to live in a way that reflects His honor and majesty.

through Pharaoh and all his army
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, and his army represent the epitome of earthly power and opposition to God's people. By being glorified through them, God demonstrates His supremacy over all earthly authorities. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how formidable the opposition, God's power is unmatched. Historically, the defeat of Pharaoh's army would have been a significant event, showcasing God's ability to protect and deliver His people against overwhelming odds.

through his chariots and horsemen
Chariots and horsemen were symbols of military strength and might in ancient times. By specifying these elements, the text highlights the complete and utter defeat of Egypt's military prowess. This serves as a metaphor for God's ability to dismantle any form of human strength that opposes His will. It reassures believers that God's protection and deliverance are not limited by human capabilities or resources. The destruction of these symbols of power is a testament to God's ultimate authority and the futility of relying on human strength against divine will.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians. Here, and here only, are the hearts of the Egyptians generally said to have been "hardened." Whatever meaning we attach to the expression, there will be no more difficulty in applying it to them than to Pharaoh. They had made themselves partakers in the monarch's guilt by mustering in hot haste when he summoned them, and had allowed themselves to revel in the anticipation of plunder and carnage (Exodus 15:9). Under such circumstances, the general laws which govern human nature would be quite sufficient to make their hearts grow hard. They shall follow them. Upon this act - rash, if the phenomenon had been a mere natural one - presumptuous and infatuated if the drying up were regarded as miraculous - depended altogether the destruction of the Egyptians. They had only to have "stood still" and allowed the escape, which a week previously they had done their best to encourage, in order to have remained safe and unhurt. It was their stupidity and blood-thirstiness which alone brought them into any danger. Upon his horsemen. Rather "his chariotmen." See the comment on verse 9.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And I
וַאֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will harden
מְחַזֵּק֙ (mə·ḥaz·zêq)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

the hearts
לֵ֣ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of the Egyptians
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt

so that they will go in
וְיָבֹ֖אוּ (wə·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

after them.
אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם (’a·ḥă·rê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

Then I will gain honor
וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה (wə·’ik·kā·ḇə·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

by means of Pharaoh
בְּפַרְעֹה֙ (bə·p̄ar·‘ōh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

and all
וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

his army
חֵיל֔וֹ (ḥê·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2426: An army, an intrenchment

and chariots
בְּרִכְבּ֖וֹ (bə·riḵ·bōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7393: A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstone

and horsemen.
וּבְפָרָשָֽׁיו׃ (ū·ḇə·p̄ā·rā·šāw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6571: A steed, a driver, cavalry

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OT Law: Exodus 14:17 I behold I will harden the hearts (Exo. Ex)